Phiya Kushi's Blog: Musings on life and macrobiotics

Michio Kushi Memorial Service Speeches – Masao Kushi

This post is part of a series presenting full transcripts of speeches given at the Michio Kushi Memorial Service in Boston on January 31, 2015.

Michio’s brother, Masao Kushi, prepares to speak about Michio in his younger years

MASAO KUSHI, BROTHER

My name is Masao Kushi, brother of Michio Kushi. I am nine years younger than Michio and I live in Tokyo, Japan. I came here to represent the family, Kushi Family in Japan, and to pray for Michio.

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all you who are present here today. Some of you have come here far from Europe, Central or South America, Japan and other areas. I’d like to express special thanks to you.

On this occasion, I’d like to tell you some of my memories of him in his early twenties years old when he was a university student and still lived in Japan.

The first one is: What influenced his strong interest in world peace? I have many times heard him saying “world federal government” and “world peace”. These words came from his experience as a witness to the destruction of the World War Second. While he was not dispatched overseas but he was drafted in the military as an army soldier when he served near Hiroshima until the end of the war in Japan.

On his way back to Tokyo he saw the complete destruction in Hiroshima caused by the Atomic Bomb and other major cities completely destroyed by constant air bombing. This was the reason he began seeking out the ways to create world peace through the world government activities.

Michio’s parents in 1965

One second memory is when he was twenty three years old in 1949 on the day he left Japan for America. Together with our parents, we took Michio to the Yokohama Sea Port. At that time there was no airplane service and people crossed the ocean by boat taking several weeks. At the moment before he got on the boat, our father turned to him and said, “Once you get to America, never think of Japan. Stay there as long as you can. Be the soil on America.”

Then our mother, who loved him more than anyone else said, “You are no longer my son, Michio. You are a son of the world. Do what the world want you to do.”

Then our mother, who loved him more than anyone else said, “You are no longer my son, Michio. You are a son of the world. Do what the world want you to do.”

Since then, more than seventy years has passed. As all of you have observed, Michio has saved and improved many people mentally and physically through his activities. He has always been supported and helped by many people like you who are present here today.

I am very proud of Michio and his family and also respect people who are always with him. I sincerely hope the young generation who are interested in the macrobiotic way of life will continue his legacy to keep Michio’s spirit alive in the future. Thank you very much.